More Coloradans moving out as population growth brings traffic headaches, higher home prices

Greeley's home prices continue to rise, although amounts remain considerably less than those of some neighboring communities.

Colorado's red-hot population growth rate is cooling, and while current residents may celebrate, those who are leaving in increasing numbers say they were driven away by rising housing prices, jobs that don't pay enough and traffic jams.

The state in 2016 saw its first drop this decade in the number of people arriving from other states, while those leaving Colorado hit a record high, resulting in the lowest net-migration number — 30,000 total new residents — in seven years.

New annual figures from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey show that 193,000 Coloradans moved away last year, 10,000 more than in 2015, while 223,000 moved here, down about 4,000 from the year before but still well above recent years.

"We are seeing that there has been an increase in outs — the highest on record," said state demographer Elizabeth Garner.

“We are seeing that there has been an increase in outs

— the highest on record.

— Elizabeth Garner, state demographer

Recommended Stories For You

Nicole Parkin moved to Colorado from New Jersey in 2009, lured by a combination of "beauty and affordability." On Friday night, she planned to start the long drive back, her Toyota Corolla loaded with personal belongings, a pet dog and a deep sense of resignation.

"The growth of our beautiful city has brought nothing but increased traffic, angry entitled transplants who have no respect, and a cost of living that is through the roof," the former Aurora resident said.

The Census survey numbers don't include people who have moved to the state from abroad. And because the counts are based on surveys, the margin of errors can be large, especially when looking at movements to and from individual states.